Apparatus for making composition-cork sheets



May-22; 1928. 1,671,078

C. E. MMANUS APPARATUS FOR MAKING COMPOSITION CORK SHEETS Filed June 5, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 22, 1928.

' C. E. M MANUS APPARATUS FOR MAKiNG COMPOSITION coax SHEETS Filed June 5, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w A A h mm May 22, 1928. 1,671,078 C. E. M MANUS APPARATUS FOR MAKING COMPOSITION CORK SHEETS Filed June 1923 'SSheets-Sheet 3 Jill Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES E. MCMANUS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 CROWN CORK 8c SEAL COIL PANY, INC., 01' NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATU$ FoR MAfKING COMPOSITION-CORK SHEETS.

Application filed .Tune 5,

My invention relates to-apparatus for making composition cork sheets, and. more particularly to an apparatus of this type 1n which the material is produced by a continuous operation involving not only the delivery of succeeding charges ofthe granular cork with its thin coating of adhesive or binding material, and the substantially uniform compaction thereof withinthe desired bulk, but the subjectionpf the compacted composition to an elevated temperature and other conditions which will ensure the setting of the adhesive or other binding material in a manner to ensure the desired homogeneity of the product and a resiliency approximating that ofnatural cork.

Heretofore in the production of cork sheets, it has been the practice to form such sheets by means of molds, the capacity of which is such as to produce slabs of the material, such molds having the composition cork mechanically delivered thereto and compacted therein, by a packing machine, the molds thereafter being passedthrough a baker or vn'lcanizer and a cooler before being openedfor the purpose of drawing the slabs therefrom. This cooling operation is in the nature of a curing process not only permitting the adhesive or other binding material to set, but conditioning the composition so that it may be subsequently cut into any form which may be desired, either into sheets or blocks from which various articles of manufacture may be made.

Because of the expansive force developed as aresult of the application of heat to the mass within the molds, these molds must possess great rigidity, and the handling of the same is a matter of considerable difliculty and requires considerable time, which is a factor of much importance in the production of material which must be cheaply produced to meet competition with the natural Composition cork has the advanproduct. tagc, however, that it may be handled in regular sizes and may be made in sufiiciently large sizes and of uniform thickness, thus permitting a reduction in the cost of subsequent handling and the avoidance of Waste in a degree which is present when using natural cork.

In apparatus embodying my invention, the coated cork granules are delivered to uniform dimensions throughout.

1923. Serial No. 643,553.

1nez-1nsforming a continuous mold in sucreediug substantially uniform charges or batches, by a mechanism which forces each charge into intimate relation with preceding charges, while at the same time compacting it within the mold which is of substantially the same dii'nensions throughout, so that succeeding charges will. be brought to the same (llll'lGIlSlOllS with relation to the entire strip produced in the apparatus.

The compacted mass is advanced by a step by step movement under conditions which will holdit compacted, and while being so held, the mold forming means pass through a Zone of high temperature in vwhich the adhesive is brought to a tacky state, and

with some adhesives, i partially set, and

thereafter through a low temperature zone,

in which the mold and its contents are par tially cooled, and the adhesive or binding material finally set so that as the cork composition strip is delivered from the machine,

itis a homogeneous strip of substantially This strip, by r ason of the final cooling stage in its production, is in a condition to permit the mold forming elements to be readily sepa rated therefrom, the cooling operation having progressed to a point adjacent these elements where there is no likelihood of a bonding action between the cork composition and the wall of the mold. Furthermore, as the mold forming elements pass from engagement with the cork strip, when it has been conditioned as above, there is no tendency of the composition to expand when relieved of the confining pressure from said elements, thus ensuring a fairly smooth lat surface at all faces of the strip.

In compacting cork composition, even by succeeding operations and in batches of substantially the same volume, and also limited as to volume so as to conform to the capacity of the machine in compacting same, considerable resistance is developed between the material and the Walls of the mold, which if the batches are too large, will prevent a satisfactory compaction of the mass. lVhile in a continuous mold machine of the character shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the moldmay be of a length of sixty, seventy, or more feet as to those elements forming the mold space, the friction engendered will be very great and maybe relied upon to offer sufficient resistance to prevent relative movement of the strip and of the mold forming elements, thus developing that resistance required for compacting the fresh batches as they are delivered to said elements. I pre- 'l'er, however, to soconstruct the apparatus that said mold'forming elements will be positively held against movement during temperature zones.

The invention consists primarily in an a tiparatus of the character described embodying therein two oppositely disposed, endless carriers, the adjacent reaches, of which extend in substantially parallel relation to each other, a sequence of independent mold forming elements supported by said carriers respectively and adapted to be brought thereby so as to abut against each other, the elements upon said carriers respectively being spaced apart to form a continuous mold space, and flanges closing the opposite edges of said mold space, means whereby said carriers may have simultaneous, similar movement imparted thereto, means compacting and delivering composition cork to within said mold space, and a heated chamber through which said mold forming elements are passed after receiving said composition cork; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a condensed side View of an apparatus embodying my invention, the cen tral portion of the apparatus being, broken away Fig. 2 is a condensed plan view thereof; 7 Fig. 3 is a condensed vertical section longitudinally of the machine; and r Fig. 4 is a section on the line ie-4 of Fig. 3.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In, the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, I employ two sets of endless: carriers or chains 10 and 11, the former of which pass about two pairs of sprocket wheels 12 and 13 arranged adjacent opposite ends of the machine respectively, and the latter of which pass about two pairs of sprocket wheels 14 and 15 also arranged adjacent opposite ends of the machine. The shafts carrying the pairs of sprocket wheels 13 and '15'are preferably geared together so as to ensure the desired unidirectional and uniform movement un der, similar conditions of the chains of each set, these gear wheels being shown at 16 and 17 respectively.

The lower reach ofthe chains of the set 10-and theupper reach of the chains of the set 11, or the adjacent reaches of the carrier chains, or carriers, are, by reason of the positioning of the various sprocket wheels, maintained infsubstantially parallel spacedrelation, it being desirable, however, to provide suitable backing members or supports for the mold forming elements carried by these chains, which will be more particularly referred to hereinafter, for the two-fold object of maintaining this parallel relation and preventing the separation of mold forming elements'as a result of the enpansion, under heat, of the cork composition in the mold space between said elements.

Each set of chains 10 and 11 has secured thereto a sequence of mold forming elements, those upon the chains 10 being indicated at 1 8 and those upon the chains 11, at 19, the parallel adjacent reaches of the chains of each set being spaced apart sufficiently to form a mold space between the elements 18 and 19 as these elements are brought into cooperating relation by the port on of saidcarrier chains carrying same entering the adjacent parallel reaches of said chains. The elements naturally separate as the chains pass about the sprocket wheels with which they cooperate.

The mold space thus formed is closed at the opposite or side edges by flanges upon Ill) the ends of. the elements 18 or 19, these flanges in the drawings being shown at 20 and upon the elements 18, although it is apparent that so long as these end flanges which form the sides of the mold are so proportioned as to close the space between said elements, it is imn'iatcrial whetlrer they are formed upon one or the other of the mold elements or upon both of said elements. 7

By n'iounting the mold forming elements upon carriers 10 and 11 passing about sprocket wheels as shown, said elements are permitted to have simultaneous and similar movement during the operation of the machine, so that as each charge of the cork composition is delivered to within the mold space, succeeding mold forming elements will replace those utilized for forming the mold space thus filled. In this manner there is no interruption in the mold space,

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the effect being a continuous mold, the elemen is forming which are repeatedly brought into their co-operating relation to permitthe charging of the mold, and out of this relation to permit the discharge .ot tlie product.

In the formation of strips or sheets of compactcdcork granules having a very thin surface coating of adhesive or binder, a liquid-tight jointis not necessary between succeeding mold it'orniing elements, or, at the ends of the elements upon the oppositely disposed carriers as the matter delivered within the mold space is never fluid. In tact a loose lit all'ords a veiitjlor gases which may be released within the moldwhile it is being subjected to high temperatures, thus permitting greater density in the product by the elimination of small voids resulting from the presence oi gas within the mold.

This is true particularly to the surface of the product, where the gas would have the greatest tendency to accumulate. This, however, is a matter of minor importance, particularly as the surface of the strip or sheet will always have more or less the surface grain of the metal of the mold.

The shafts of the sprockets 12- and sprockets 13 and sprockets 14 with the sprockets 15 are spaced a considerable distance apart in order to ensure the mold elements and the composition cork in the mold space termed thereby to be subjected to a high temperature zone for a sufiicient interval to thoroughly heat the entire mass of composition cork so as to lime or otherwise condition the adhesive or binder to cause the cork granules to be firmly cemented together. The carrier chains and the mold :l'orn'iingelements are also passed through a low tQlHpGTat/LHG zone after leaving the high temperature zone, for an interval of time siifiicientto permit the adhesive or hinder to fully set, and surface shrinkage of the composition to be sii'liicieiitly great to prevent the mass expanding when relieved of the pressure from the mold forming elements. The distance between said sprockets may, according to the dimensions of the sheet, vary from sixty to one hundred twenty five feet. 1

TllIOtlgllOUt a portion of the length of the carriers 10 and 11 and the sequence of mold forming elements 18 and 19 carried thereby. they pass through a high temperature Zone indicated at 21 having suitable heating media as the gas burners 22 therein, said "arriers and elements atter leaving said -liigh temperature zone passing through a low temperature zone 23 extending to the discharge point of the machine. The relatiie'length of these high temperature and low temperature zones mav be varied according to theadhesive or binder used and -the dimensions o't the sheet or strip being former it is well known to workers in the arts the piston. v I

throat is shown, at 33 and the so called utilizing composition cork, that the time required to properly condition the adhesive or hinder such as to place a limitation upon the thicl'ness, or cross-sectional area of the mass of composition, since sutlicient time must be allowed for the heat to penetrate the entire mass of composition, and yet the intervalmust not be suiliciently great to cause the heat to injure the cork granules adjacent the surface of the mass. Ordillll'ily the maximum thickness of the mass to secure the best results should not exceed two inches and a thinner mars preferable. i Adjacent the sprocket wheels of each pair 12 and H, and at a point where the elements 18 and 19 converge toward and are entering into, the adjacent parallel reaches of the carrier members or chains 10 and 11, 1 provide a charging and con'ipacting mechanism by which. substantially uniform quantities of the cork composition are delivered in succeeding charges to the mold space 'lUll'llCt'l between the elements 18 and 19 and the side flanges upon either or both of these ele ments. This mechanism comprises a throat 2 1- of a width corres ionding with that of the mold space formed by the elements 18 and 19, and having converging top and bottom walls so as to cause the gradual compaction of the mass of composition andits delivery operations of the machine.

In tlie aceon'i 'ianying drawings, 1 have shown merely a conventional measuring de vice consisting of radially spaced vanes 26 adapted to receive the cork con'iposition from a suitable hop yer 27. actuated by an intein'iittent mechanism con- The vanes 26 are sisting ol a ratchet wheel 28 acted upon by a pawl 29 carried by a swing frame 30 mounted upon the shattot', said ratchet wheel and actuated by'means of a link 31 connected with the pitman ior actuating the piston 24;. or one of the trunnions of said piston. The teeth of the ratchet wheel 28am so. set that during the compacting stroke of said-piston 24, the measuring device willbe iiiioperative, but will be actuated during the return or inoperative stroke of The graduated portion of the cylinder at 34-.

Owing to the compressibility inherent to the material of the composition, it has a tendency, when delivered to within the mold space, to expand immediately atter compaction, and whensiibjected to heat, this tendill) Hi l

binding of the. granules together and uniform density in the production. Where the mold is formed of a sequence-of independent co-a-cting element-s supported by a flexible carrier, there is naturally a tendency of these elements toseparate under the eXpan-- sive force excrted by the composition, which would resultin an absence of the desired density, and a variance in the dimensions as to thickness, of the product;

To correct the above condition, I provide a plurality of backing members or supports 3 536, the former of which. is adapted to engage the mold forming elements 18iwhile they are, being passed along the lower reach of the chains 10, and the latter of which is adapted to engage the mold forming ele ill ments 19 upon the upper reach of the chains 11 parallel with the bottom reach of the chains 1Q. The number of such backing members or supports will vary with the width of the elements 18 and19,the purpose of said members being to preserve the parallel relation of the cooperating elements whilethey are forming the mold space, and hold them against likelihood of being separated by pressure from within the mold; It. is desirable to provide anti-friction rollers 37 and 38 upon each of the elements 18- and 19respectively, adapted to engage the backing members or supports for the purpose oi: minimizing wear and reducing friction at thisp'oint of the machine.

The piston 24: is actuated by means of a cranl'r shaft, one of the cranks 39 of which is connectedwith the pitman 32 and another crank 40 of which, is connected by the rod ll with a crank disk 42 upon the shaft adjacent one of the pairs ofsprocket wheels, the pin of said disk being so set with relation to a mechanism for actuating the carrier chainsvlO and 11', as to impart a return, inoperative movement to the piston 24 while the.carriersarebeingadvanced, and a direct, compacting movement to. said piston while said carriers are hel'dagainst movement by said. mechanism.

The mechanism for imparting an inter- ;mittent advancing movement to the carriers 10 and 11 consists of a Geneva movement, the disk 42 co-operating with, a Geneva gear 43 forming one element of this movement. The shaft of said gear 43' has mounted thereona spur gear 44; in mesh with the gear 117. The disk 4 2,hasassociated therewith a plate 45 having thereon a single pin .46" adapted toco-operate with the gear 43. The disk 42 and the plate 45 may be driven in any desired manner as by means of an ordinary belt and pulley drive indicated at 47.

Att8 I have shown thegas feed pipe for the, burners W hinth c a b Whilel' have shownth e Geneva gear driving movement as being associated with one of the sprocket wheels 15, it is apparent that this. movement may be shown toward the end of the machine adjacent the com pact-ing throat 24, if it be desired to,avoid a long connecting rod 41.

Preferably the cranks 39 and connecting rods 32 are duplicated upon opposite sides and 19- carried thereby, are being. moved by the Geneva gear mechanism, this movement being away from the throat 33 as to the two adjacent reaches of said chains and the mold elements secured thereto.

Upon the next cycle of the machine, the crank disk 42 and parts actuated thereby will impart a direct reciprocation to the pis ten or plunger 24, or a movement towards the mold elements, thus forcing the charge of granularcork, coated as herein described, toward and into the throat 33. The converginr; top, and bottom walls ofthisth-roat will offer resistance to the movement of the greater portion of this charge, so that there will be 'a partial compaction of the vmass while within the throat. Upon the following cycle the above operations will 'be repeated, the charge in this cycle and. in all succeeding cycles being forced into engagement with the charge or chargespreviously compacted in the throat'33 and imparting movement thereto towards and to within the mold space'between the mold forming elements l-8 and 19- and their end flanges 20. Afterthe. delivery of the initial charge'to within the mold space, all charges will be compacted in substantially the same degree subject, however, to slight variation because of possibility of succeeding charges not being of exactly the same bulk.

The first 'few charges delivered into the mold may not be suflicientlv compacted to secure commercially satisfactory results, owing to the fact that the length of each charge-does not exceed'one and a half or two inches when compacted, and the frictional resistance between the charge and the walls of the mold may not offer that resistance 10 and 11 and the mold. forming elements 18' necessary to secure the desired compaction in these first few charges. Asthe length of the materialin the mold becomes greater, however, this resistance will of itself 'be suflicient to ensure the desired compaction of the mass so-that thereafter, inthe continued operation of the machine, there will be no d-ifiiculty in securing the desired initial density as a result ofthe mechanical compaction of the composition. I

In the accompanying drawings, the scale is so small as tomake an exact showing of conditions impossible, and the spacing of the parts as shown is not accurate. This, however, is a matter of mere mechanical detail.

As the various mold forming elements 18 and 19 come together in parallel planes, they will of themselves develop certain pressure upon the composition within the mold, and check any tendency it may have to expand to a material extent after each charge is filled into the mold.

I he cork composition itself when delivered from the measuring device, is in loose granules coated with adhesive or binding material conditioned so as to have little or no tendency to cause the granules to cohere. The initial compaction, however, will cause the granules to cohere with sufficient strength to prevent the separation of particles therefrom in the short distance between the discharge end of the throat 33 and the point where the mold forming elements close upon the mass of compacted granules.

The various elements 18 and 19 passing along the adjacent reaches of the chain 10 or 11, (the carriers), will be advanced by a step by step movement, the quantity of movement being measured bythe effective stroke of the piston or plunger 241:, whether this advance bea positive mechanical movement as shown, or as a result of the movement of the compacted granular cork into the mold space as a result of the frictional engagement between this material and the walls of i said space. The positive mechanical movement shown is preferable as ensuring the desired extent of compaction of all charges.

It is apparent that while the machine is in operation, the cork composition will pass in a continuous sheet to within the mold space, notwithstanding that the charging of the mold by an interi'i'iittent operation and with succeeding cl iarges.

As the elements 18 and it) while forming the mold space thus progress with a step by step movement, they are brought successively through the high temperature zone 21 where the heat will have the effect of properly conditioning the adhesive so as to form the desired intimate bond betweenthe different cork granules and at the same time causethe rcadjustn'ient of these granules with relation to each other as a result of expansion of the mass under heat, to secure the desired density of the product. Separation of the mold elements during this expansion is prevented by the backing members or supports 35 and 36.

As the various mold elements leave the high temperature zone 21, the cork granules willbe substantially permanently bonded together, but if the mold were opened at this time,1the cork sheet or strip would expand,

since the adhesive has not fully set and the entire mass is still more or less plastic. It is for thisreason that I provide a low temperature zone 23 through which the mold elements are carried so as to permit the par tial cooling of the mass to permit it to take a more or less permanent set and permit shrinkage, particularly of the portion of the composition adjacent the surface of the strip or sheet, with the two fold objectof utilizing this portion of the strip to check the tendency of the entire mass to expand, and at the same time permitting the separation of the mold forms without likelihood of the surface of the compositionadhering thereto.

It is apparent that the mass of composition cork will be discharged from the apparatus in the form of a continuous strip or sheet which will have a high degree of flexibility and substantially uniform density throughout. Such material has none of those Voics characteristic of natural. cork, so that it may be readily separated into blocks or sheets, each of which will be free from surface voids, or from openings ex tending entirely theretl'irough, thus particularly adapting the product for use in the production of gaskets for use in gas engines or in other connections, cushions for bottle caps, and various analogous purposes in the arts.

While the movement of the mold forming elements 18 and 19 away from each other as a result of the passage of the carrier chains 10 and 11 of each pair about the sprocket wheels 13 and 15, will ordinarily ensure the free movement of the compacted, vulcanized or baked and partially cooled strip or sheet (shown at 419) from the machine, I may provide stripper members 50 and 51 for ensuring a complete separation of the sheet or strip 49 from the succeeding elements 18 and 19.

lt not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of cou--itruction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied while still permitting the production of a continuous sheet or strip of the compositimi cork material as a result of the intermittently movable separable mold forming ele ments mounted upon continuous carriers, the adjacent reaches of said carriers being passed progressively through high and low temperature zones which secure the desired effects as above stated.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. An apparatus of the character described, embodying therein two oppositely disposed, endless carriers, the adjacent reaches of which extend in substantially parallel relation to each other, a sequence of independent inold forniing elements supported by said carriers respectively and adapted to be brought thereby so asto abut 'against'e'ach other, the elements upon said carriers respectively beingspaced apart to form a continuous mold'space, and flanges closing the opposite edges of said mold space, means whereby said carriers may have simultaneous, similar movement imparted thereto, means compacting and delivering composition cork to within said mold space, and a heated chamber through which said mold forming elements are passed after receiving said composition cork.

:- tinuousmold space, end flanges closing the opposite edges of said mold space, means whereby said carriers may have simultaneous, similar movement imparted thereto, means con'ipaeting and'deliveriug composition cork to within said mold space, two chambers through which said mold forming elements are successively passed after receiving said composition cork, and means maintainingan elevated temperature in the first of said-chambers, whereby composition cork; within said mold forming elements will be successively subjected-to-a high tempera ture and to a relatively lower temperature.

3. Anapparatus of the character described, embodying therein two oppositely disposed, endless carriers, the adjacent reaches of which extend in substantially parallel relation to each other, a sequence of independent mold forming elements supported by said carriers respectively and adapted to be brought thereby so as to abut against-each other, the elements upon said carriers 'respectively being spaced apart to form a continuous mold space, end flanges closing the opposite edges of said moldspace, means whereby said carriers may have simultaneous, similar movement imparted thereto, means compacting and delivering composition cork to within said mold space,-'means whereby said carriers are positively held against movement while said last named means are operative to delivercomposition corkto within the mold space, anda heated chamber through which said mold. forming elements are passed after receiving said composition cork.

4. An apparatus of 'the character described, embodying therein two oppositely disposed endless carriers, the adjacent reaches of which extend in substantially parallelrelation'to'each other, a sequence o f incomposition cork, a measuring device' ad apted to deliver cork from said hopper, a cylinder with which said measuring dev ce Conn municates," a'throat leadlng 'trom said cylinder'and'opening into one endof the mold space formed by said mold formingelements, aupisto'n mounted in said cylinder, means whereby said-carriers may have 'simultane ous, similar movementimparted thereto, and a heated chamber through which said mold formingelements are passed afterreceiving said composition cork.

'5. An apparatus of the character described, embodying therein two oppositely disposed endless carriers, the --adjacent reaches of which extend insubstantially arallelrelation to each otheiga sequence ot independentmold forming-elements supported by said carriers respectively and --adaptfed -to be broughtthereby sons to abut againsteach other, the elements upon said-carriers respectively beings'pace'dapart to forma continuous mold space, end flanges closing theopp'osite' edges of said-mold space,kmea ns coinpacting and delivering" composition cork to within said moldyspace, driving means for said carriers including therein rotatable members about which said earners respectively pass, gerls, connecting members for the oppositely disposed carriers, a driving gearing operative uponone of said last named gears consisting of a Geneva, gear movement, and means actuating one of the elements of said Geneva gear movement,

whereby said carriers are positively held against movement except during a part of each revolutionof said d-riving-means-ymeans synchronized with the actuation of said Greneva gear movement for actuating the means for co-mpactingand delivering composition cork, and a heated'chamber' through which said mold forming elements are passed after receiving said compositioncork.

6. An apparatus of the character 'described, embodying therein two oppositely disposed endless carriers, the adjacent reaches of which extend in substantiallyiparallel relation to each other,asequenceof'independent mold forming'elemerits supported by said carriers respectively and adapted to be brought thereby so as to abut against each other, the elements upon said carriers respectively being spaced apart to formfa continuous mold space, end fl angesclosing the opposite edges of saidinoldspac -a hopper for composition cork, a 'measuring "device adapted to deliver cork from said hopper, a

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) cylinder with which said measuring device communicates, a throat leading from said cylinder and opening into one end of the mold space formed by said mold forming elements, a piston mounted in said cylinder,

driving means for said carriers including therein rotatable members about which said carriers respectively pass, gears connecting members for the oppositely disposed carriers, a driving gearing Operative upon one of said last named gears consisting of a Geneva gear movement, and means actuating one of the elements of said Geneva gear movement, whereby said carriers are positively held against movement except during a part of each revolution of said driving means, means synchronized with the actua tion of said Geneva gear movement for actuating said piston and said measuring device, and a heated chamber through which said mold forming elements are passed after receiving said composition cork.

7. An apparatus of the character de-- scribed, embodying therein two oppositely disposed, endless carriers, the adjacent reaches of which extend in substantially parallel relation to each other, a sequence of independent mold forming elements supported by said carriers respectively and adapted to be brought thereby so as to abut against each other, the elements upon said carriers respectively being spaced apart to form a continuous mold space, en'd flanges closing the opposite edges of said mold space, means whereby said carriers may have simultaneous, similar movement imparted thereto, means compacting and delivering composition cork to within said mold space, a heated chamber through which said mold form ing elements are passed after receiving said composition cork, and backing members operative upon said mold forming elements while within said heated chamber to prevent separation of said elements a result of expansion of the composition cork within the mold space.

8. An apparatus of the character described, embodying therein two oppositely disposed, endless carriers, the adjacent reaches of which extend in substantially parallel relation to each other, a sequence of independent mold forming elements sup ported by said carriers respectively and adapted to be brought thereby so as to abut against each other, the elements upon said carriers respectively being spaced apart to form continuous mold space, end flanges closing the opposite edges of said mold space, means whereby said carriers may have simultaneous, similar movement imparted thereto, means compacting and delivering composition cork to within said mold space, two chambers through which said mold forming elements are successively passed after receiving said composition cork, means maintaining an elevatedtemperature in the first of said chambers, whereby composition cork within said mold forming elements will be successively subjected to a high tempera" ture and to a relatively lower temperature,

form a continuous mold space, end flanges closing the opposite edges of said mold space, meanswhereby the space between said members is closed at the opposite ends thereof to complete the formation of said mold space, means whereby said carriers may have simultaneous, similar movement in'iparted thereto, means compacting and delivering composition cork to within said mold space, two chambers through which said mold forming elements are successively passed after receiving said composition cork, means maintaining an elevated temperature in the first of said chambers, whereby composition cork within said mold forming elements will be successively subjected to a high temperature and to a relatively lower temperature, and backing members operative upon said mold forming elements while within said heated chamber to prevent separation of said elements as a result of expansion of the composition cork within the mold space.

10. An apparatus of the character described, embodying therein two oppositely disposed. sets of endless carriers, the adjacent rare-hes of which extend in substantially parallel relation to each other, a sequence oi: independent mold forming elements supported by said. carriers respectively and adapted to be brought thereby so as to abut against each other, the elements upon said.

carriers respectively being spaced apart to form a continuous mold space, end flanges closing the opposite edges of said mold space, means whereby said carriers may have simultaneous, similar movement imparted thereto, a hopper for composition cork, a measuring device adapted to deliver cork from said hopper, a cylinder with which said measuring device communicates, a throat leading from said cylinder and opening into one end of the mold space formed by said mold forming elements, a piston mounted. in said cylinder, means whereby said carriers are positively held against movement while said "piston is operative to (1e liver ceniposition corkto Within 'the mold space and receive movement While said cylinder is inoperative to so compact and deliver the comp'osition 'cork, two ehamber through which said mold forming elements aresueCeSSively passed after receiving said edx'npos'ifion Cork 21nd means maintainu'lg ,zin

elevated" t'empernt'ule in the first of said elfzunbers"whereby composition" cork within 10 said mold formin elements Willbe succes sively subjected to l a hi n "ten'lperuture and ten relatively lower tBIIIPGI'PLtUIG.

In"\vitne s' whereof I have hereunto :Iffixed my sl m'ltule, this 24th dny'of April- 1923 CHARLES MCMANUS. I 

